FIVE

After the doors closed to the conference room Richard began his meeting with his attendings. But even before Richard started talking, Owen was thinking about what Derek had said to him in the stair well on their way back through the hospital. He had challenged Owen a little frustrated, a little concerned that Owen was experiencing anxiety. Possibly tied in to the many losses he had suffered of people who were close friends to him. People he expected he could count on. Friends that loved him and would cover his back if Owen needed them too. When he lost his friends, his family of friends, all in one go; it undoubtedly shook him and lodged in him a myriad of issues he'd been dealing with in his year with Cristina. Now things had levelled off and he had a grip of some sense of normalcy in his life and relationship and his work, Owen, stated Derek, was apprehensive over the next bomb dropping so to speak and was trying to get out of the way. Cristina, because she wasn't saying I love you when Owen needed to hear it in the way he needed to hear it, heightened his nerves and made him jumpy as he couldn't guarantee her sticking around and so subconsciously, or consciously he was frightened that she would be lost too. It was understandable Derek said, but totally unreal. He urged Owen to talk with Cristina. Owen knew what Derek was saying was right.

***

Minutes before the meeting with Richard and the other attendings in the conference room. Derek found himself pressed up against a wall in the third floor on call room by Meredith. Her hands trailing over his body and kisses planted over his face and neck. Her body pressed into his. She got straight to the point, apologised for their spat the night before and asked why he was talking to Owen on the roof. Derek gave more answers than he should have and five minutes later Meredith was out the door straightening her hair and on the way to find Cristina.

Since the choking incident. Meredith had kept her eye on Owen, and Cristina. She let Owen know through her gestures and her attitude that she was watching out for her friend. Once Cristina had made the decision to give Owen yet another chance Meredith had to reluctantly let go and let the two of them be a couple and not interfere, especially after Cristina had reluctantly promised, but had undergone some therapy with Dr Wyatt. And far as Owen was concerned, Meredith couldn't fault him. She hated that she had to like him after the choking but she had to admit that he was making her friend happy. While Cristina wasn't Izzie light she was softer around the edges and enjoying being a girlfriend to her boyfriend. So when Mer spotted Owen and Derek on the terrace, with Owen appearing troubled, it had made her curious and now with the information Derek handed her, old fears about Owen hurting her resurfaced at top speed.

Cristina was standing at the surgery board next Bailey and another doctor making idle conversation. "Cristina!"

Cristina looked to Dr Bailey who said. "Go Yang, we're done here for the day."

Meredith all but dragged Cristina down the hall to an empty nurse's station. "What did you find out?" She urged.

"Nothing," Replied Cristina. "I haven't seen Owen yet. "

"Well I know what's going on!"

"Wow, that was fast. Pony up; what did McDreamy have to say for himself?" Cristina wriggled her fingers at Meredith.

"Owen ... is breaking up with you!" Meredith blurted out.

"What!"

"Seriously. That's what Derek said." Meredith hands in lab coat, recited the following. "Owen doesn't know if he wants to be with you anymore. You hold back on your emotions and he can't take it any longer."

"Meredith. Stop. You're good. I bought it for all of a... second, now what's going on with you and McDreamy."

"I'm serious Cristina, Owen is thinking of breaking up with you."

"Oh so now he's only thinking of breaking up with me. Come on Mer."

"That's what Derek told me."

"Right..."

"I had to use my womanly charms to get it out of him."

"Okay Meredith." Cristina walked away down the hall.

"I broke him in about a minute, which I think is a record for us."

"McDreamy's on acid." Cristina said stopping in her tracks. "I was with Owen last night and he was loving me. We had..."

"...Great sex... Yes I know. "

Cristina turned to face her friend. "Not just great sex, fantastic sex, blow you mind sex. You couldn't image it in your wildest dreams sex. He danced for me for god sake. There's no way we're breaking up. I'm going to find Owen myself, find out what's up with my poor red headed lover."

Meredith grabbed Cristina as she turned to walk away. "Wait, what? Owen danced for you?"

"Shh..." Cristina waved.

"Owen danced for you?" Meredith laughed.

"It was part of the... you know...last night." Cristina lowered her voice. "He danced and then he went down south if you know what I mean and gave me the best you know what..."

"Alright!" Meredith held up her hand. "You know...He's probably exhausted, or suffering from toxic shock syndrome, I'm sure there's only so much Yang he can take."

"Very funny I'm going to find Owen. I'll meet you in the locker room in ten minutes."

Cristina shook her head, walking back to the nurses' station she reached over the desk and picked up the phone, she dialled Owens number, and when he paged her back she went to meet him.